Verizon Wireless Screws Up Daylight Saving Time Adjustments, Makes People Late—UPDATE: Call Verizon For Credit
Author: Nick
Category: Money
Topics: technology
As one of the premiere I Hate Verizon Fan Club members, I get a lot of e-mail from people sharing their experiences with the Big Red V. Today I woke up to find three e-mails from irate Verizon Wireless customers who got off to a bad start this morning thanks to some sloppy math on the part of their cell phone provider.
Apparently Verizon Wireless decided to celebrate the end of Daylight Saving Time a couple of days early. Instead of waiting until Sunday at 2am like most of the United States, Verizon Wireless adjusted some of its customers’ cell phone clocks on Friday morning. Countless tens of people who use their Verizon cell phone as an alarm clock were surprised when they showed up to work an hour late today. Thanks to the geniuses at Verizon Timekeeping Headquarters, some cell phones were adjusted remotely to show 7am when it was really 8am—an hour later!
To quote reader Michelle who wrote in to tell us about the calamity:
I usually set my Verizon alarm clock for 6:30, and that’s when it went off this morning. Only it was really 7:30 and I now had only 30 minutes to get ready and go to work.
We can only imagine that Michelle was fired and possibly executed for her tardiness. Way to go, Verizon. And let this be a lesson to all of you who rely on their cell phones as alarm clocks: do you really want to use a clock that can be adjusted remotely “by accident?”
Seriously, cell phone clock tampering is just a terrorist attack waiting to happen. Imagine what would happen to the U.S. economy if everyone showed up to work an hour late for just a single day. Chaos and pandemonium.
So buy yourself a real alarm clock—one with a battery backup—set it yourself, and never be late for sitting in traffic on the Beltway again.
EDIT: A discussion on FatWallet confirms Verizon’s Daylight Saving snafu. At least one customer is reporting success calling customer service and getting a $20 credit for his complaint.
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9 Responses »
1.
Mrs. Micah
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:14 am
My cell periodically switches itself off for no good reason. So I don’t trust it for important alarms anyway. Hadn’t thought of this possibility, though.
2.
Clever Dude
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:22 am
I rely on the neighbor’s barking dog to wake me up in the morning.
3.
s
November 4th, 2007 at 1:39 am
ok, that doesn’t make sense, it’s reversing an hour…so how would they lose time? they’d GAIN an hour..
4.
Nick
November 4th, 2007 at 9:52 am
@s,
Yes, they did gain an hour. An hour of extra sleep while everyone else was awake and at work. That’s why they were late.
5.
straight cut gears
March 9th, 2008 at 3:09 am
one of two things about that faulty tale, you irrationally uneducated hatermongers…
1- a vengeful liar with an obvious “v”endetta against the “red v” as u say lol
2- clearly unaware of DST rules (do you hearing google web on it?)
YOU SPRING FORWARD, MICHELLE> and who is this einstein who backs her up and instigates by hinting her being possibly fired even?! anger issues. AI. look into it. it’s a phone. a phone. get a hobby. you’re gonna get obese eating donuts and hating. (now is that fair? SEE?)
just go elsewehere, then…..many people do and come back running.
I DID and realized at the same time that V is the least of many evils. what can you do when they control you?? stop crying with this “club” - geez. i coulda made many armies with my war stories vs. all of ‘em. helio? argh. at&t. oh my god! t-mobile is satan. sprint is mentally challenged. (sorry)
so SHUT UP! i happened here by accident looking for DST info and found 4 people reminding me of the TV show Dear John. LOL indeed, whew.
6.
straight cut gears
March 9th, 2008 at 3:11 am
some typos…oops.
i’m only human…..not the red v.
hahahahahhaa
7.
rienarry
March 29th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
@Clever Dude
Lol.. the same experience. but once I got late to office since the dog died the night before. :))
Now I work at home and no need alarm anymore. how a nice life.
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